If you only knew this last year… you would’ve saved yourself a lot of time and frustration by focusing on the right hours. I used to grind through entire sessions, thinking more screen time meant more opportunity. But the truth is, most of the day’s real movement in FX doesn’t happen all day, it happens in a narrow window.
For intraday traders, the first few hours of the London–New York overlap (roughly 8 a.m. to noon ET) hold the majority of liquidity and volatility. Miss it, and you’re usually left with scraps, sideways chop, fake breakouts, or low-volume drifts. I learned this the hard way, but the data backs it up.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Overlap Is Where Liquidity Lives
When London and New York are open at the same time, the world’s two biggest financial centers collide. Spreads tighten, volume spikes, and execution improves. This is when institutional orders hit the tape, and when trends either begin or extend. It’s no coincidence that many intraday breakouts start here.
source: investopedia
2. Nearly 40% of FX Volume Happens Here
Despite being less than one-fifth of the 24-hour cycle, the London–New York overlap accounts for 37% of daily FX volume. That’s not a theory, that’s straight from broker flow data. If you’re serious about trading intraday, skipping this window is like sitting out the only quarter of the game that matters. source:oanda
3. Afternoons Are a Trap
I’ve made this mistake too many times, forcing trades in the quiet hours. After the overlap, the market often drifts, retraces, or just chops sideways. It’s during these low-volume periods that fakeouts eat stops and discipline slips.
Looking back, most of my unnecessary losses came from ignoring this reality.
4. Use Tools to Stay Disciplined
Knowing this, I’ve reshaped my process. I use session indicators in TradingView and MT4 that mark London, New York, and the overlap in color blocks. It’s a simple trick, but it keeps me aware of when the market is “alive” and when it’s just background noise. With this visual cue, I plan my trades in advance and shut down outside the overlap.
Here’s a shortcut:
Open TradingView > click Indicators > search “Session Shading” or “Session Overlay.”
Add the indicator and adjust times for London and New York sessions.
Color the overlap differently so it pops out.
Now, at a glance, your chart will tell you when the real game is on.
My Takeaway
The market doesn’t reward presence all day; it rewards sharp focus during high-impact hours. If you only knew this last year, you’d be trading fewer hours, but smarter hours. The London–New York overlap is where the market breathes. Miss it, and you might miss the move.